IPSY

Hair

The Best Hair Straightening Brushes for Smoother Hair, Stat

 

While even the best hair straightening brushes might not get the same household-name status as hot tools like blow-dryers and curling irons, they’re still worth keeping in your hairstyling arsenal. That’s because few things are better than a versatile hair tool that can style hair quickly, allowing you to breeze through your routine.

As the name implies, hair straightening brushes bring together the best features of a hair brush and straightening iron. That’s a smart strategy, especially if you’re crunched for time: “The advantage of a straightening brush is that it’s a heated brush so if you’re in a hurry, you can run it through your hair while it combs and smoothes out your hair at the same time,” says Raven Hurtado, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. Plus, these brushes offer a key advantage that flat irons alone can’t. “Not only do they smooth and detangle, but they also help achieve body and volume,” she says.

Since your hair tends to be at its most fragile (and thus prone to breakage) when wet, don’t skip the blow-dry. And a heat protectant is a must-have to minimize heat damage, which can lead to breakage and split ends over time. With that in mind, scroll on for the best straightening brushes for your hair type and texture.

About the Expert:

Stylist Raven Hurtado began her career at Maxine Salon in 2009. She specializes in working with her clients to create a long-term plan for achieving healthy hair, and enjoys working with long hair to create tousled, beachy styles.

 

The 12 Best Hair Straightening Brush

1. Best for Thick Hair: AMIKA Polished Perfection Thermal Straightening Brush 2.0

Price: $$
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: iRed Beam technology, ion generator

Rather than settling for heat alone, this pick also features iRed beam technology, which helps heat penetrate deeper into hair to smooth, retain moisture, and avoid damage. Plus, it's also equipped with a negative ion projector, which emits negative ions to help nix frizz and boost shine. And if you want to beat the heat, it has cool-tip bristles to ensure comfortable styling.

2. Best for Long Hair: REVLON Salon One-Step Straight and Shine XL Heated Hair Styling Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 430 degrees
Features: ionic generator

Long, thick hair has nothing on this model, which features an oversized surface (to cover more surface area in one swipe) as well as varying lengths of bristles, which allow for easier access to the roots. Its ion generator also emits a steady stream of ions to prevent frizz and leave hair glossy.

3. Best for Damaged Hair: MIROPURE Enhanced Hair Straightener Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: 16 temperature settings, 60-minute automatic shut-off, anti-scalding feature, ionic generator

With 16 heat settings, this brush accommodates any hair type and level of damage, whether hair’s been bleached or color-treated—making it clutch if you’re dealing with damage. Ionic technology, meanwhile, allows for simultaneous smoothing abilities and frizz prevention for straight hair that actually stays that way.

4. Best for Second-Day Styling: GHD Glide Smoothing Hot Brush

Price: $$$
Max Temperature: 365 degrees
Features: Ceramic technology, ionizer, heat-up light indicator

Don’t want to mess around with temperature? No sweat: This brush heats up to 365 degrees—a happy medium for both thick and fine hair types alike—to smooth flyaways and frizz without risking damaged hair.

5. Best for Curly Hair: DRYBAR Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush

Price: $$
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: Ionic technology, 60-minute automatic shut-off, 9-foot cord

With the power of a straightening iron and the ease of the brush, this fast-acting styler is able to turn curly hair straight in a matter of minutes—not the requisite hours. It also features ionic technology to keep frizz and flyaways from appearing throughout the day.

6. Best for Frizzy Hair: L'ANGE Le Vite Straightening Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: Digital temperature settings, 9-foot swivel cord, 30-minute automatic shut-off

Hurtado is a fan of this brush, since, as she puts it, “it heats up fast and it’s easy to use with one pass.” She also points out that the ceramic bristles heat evenly to smooth the hair cuticle and prevent frizzy hair—genius.

7. Best for Fine Hair: CONAIR Infiniti Pro Ceramic Smoothing Straightening Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 400 degrees
Features: Ceramic plates, three settings

The ceramic plates on this brush ensure even heat distribution, the various bristles (which come in nylon, silicone, and ceramic) allow for easier, more manageable styling. Plus, it has three settings to accommodate a wide range of hair types, from fine to coarse hair.

8. Best for Touch-Ups: INSTYLER Straight Up Ceramic Straightening Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: Cool-tip ionic bristles, swivel cord, and automatic shut-off

Working with slightly damp hair? You’re in luck with this styler, which actually helps dry hair as it smoothes. “It’s great for all hair types and it heats up to 450 degrees,” says Hurtado. “I like it because it has ionic bristles, so it almost works as a hair dryer.” It also has 65 (!) ceramic plates to work quickly, making it especially good for touch-ups.

9. Best for Natural Hair: BABYLISSPRO Nano Titanium Thermal Paddle Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 400 degrees
Features: Swivel cord, ion generator, titanium bristles

Designed for natural hair textures, this brush pairs smoothing negative ions with bristles coated with titanium, which allows for faster heat penetration (and therefore less damage). It also helps hair retain its volume, similar to a blow-out—making it ideal for those who like their curly hair big.

10. Best for Style Experts: COMPLEX CULTURE The Smoothing Set

Price: $$$
Max Temperature: 400 degrees
Features: Ceramic bristles, negative ion technology

If you’re constantly trying out new hairstyles, you’ll want this comprehensive set on-hand. It not only features a straightening brush (naturally) but also comes with a paddle brush, four styling clips, and a storage sleeve that doubles as a hot tool placemat. Use the paddle brush to detangle before straightening and smoothing with the heated brush.

11. Best Budget Option: FOXYBAE Rose Gold Hair Straightening Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: Temperature control, tourmaline technology, infrared technology

With an eye-popping lineup of features, including tourmaline (to deliver silkier texture), infrared technology (to ensure moisture), and negative ions (to seal the cuticle), this one will force your straightening iron into retirement. Bonus? It also works super-fast.

12. Best for Static and Flyaways: REMINGTON Pro 2-in-1 Heated Straightening Brush

Price: $
Max Temperature: 450 degrees
Features: Anti-static coating, ion generator

With an anti-static coating—and clocking in at just $30—this styler makes quick work of static, flyaways, and, of course, frizz. It also features cool-tip bristles to protect your scalp, while the three heat settings allow for customization for all hair types. You’ll also score a protective pouch for storage, too.

Want to snag an IPSY Glam Bag fun? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.